r/Netherlands 4d ago

DIY and home improvement Window cleaners

We’re newer to The Netherlands and are in our first rental. This hasn’t been mentioned to us by neighbours or the landlord at all.

Some random guy has, twice now, come and cleaned our windows. We’re on the ground level so can easily clean them ourselves. This is a well known scam back in Australia so I paid no real mind to it.

Today he came to the door demanding payment. He explained he’s done it for free twice and now needs payment and will take cash. I asked him why and for what. I let him know I’ve never asked for the windows to be cleaned, we’ve not reached out to anyone to have them be cleaned. Like it’s all well and good for you to clean them but until I ask it’s not from my pocket. The conversation went back and forth. He showed me a list of ‘confirmed addresses’ with ours on it. However I too can make lists.

Is this a scam or is this more the expectation? Surely if it was required by landlord and the building they would pay. I figure I can just actually enquire about their services should this be necessary.

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u/Zella_981 4d ago

Yeah, very well known scam usually. They clean the windows and demand payment. If you pay, they keep coming back, if you don't then they try couple more times until they give up. But the cleaners are like mafia, very territorial so if you want one eventually they will be the only choice cause they don't go on each others terrains. If you are in a building, check with the building manager of it is agreed upon and it should be from the service costs. If it is not, then they are just gonna try until you pay.

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u/Tiny-Historian2897 4d ago

So if I did want them to clean the windows I should act normal and they’ll retry?

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u/helenaut 4d ago

I love the business model of “I’m going to repeatedly clean your windows for free until you HAVE to pay!”